The Sharks extended their win streak to three games
by dispatching the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center on Thursday night. It was
simply a case of the better team beating a team that has some building to do.
San Jose shook off a lethargic1st period by scoring three straight goals,
including a pair in the 2nd period to brush aside the Canucks 3-1. Backup
netminder Aaron Dell made 17 saves to earn his 8th victory of the season.

Dell faced a paltry 18 shots on the evening, but he kept all
but one puck out of his own net to validate General Manager Doug Wilson's
decision to keep the netminder on the NHL roster.

The only blemish on
Dell's evening was a Bo Horvat power play goal 7:38 into the contest. The
Sharks were a man down after Brent Burns tried swatting a waist high goal out
of his own end over the glass for a delay of game penalty.

Horvat
slipped a shot through Dell's pads off a deflection from the top of the crease,
a minute after the Canucks had killed their own delay of game penalty. Dell was
perfect from that point forward.

The sluggish Sharks offense needed
the Horvat goal to jump start their evening. They also received a little
inspiration from Micheal Haley who dropped the mitts with Jospeh Camarossa in a
fight that last three punches. Haley caught Camarossa with a right that ricked
the young forward's head back.

Mikkel Boedker tied the game with 4:15
left in the period off a shot from the inside of the right circle. Logan
Couture fed his linemate the puck with a pass through the slot from left to
right. Boedker shot left as Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller cut right to try and
cut off the short side. Boedker's shot caught the upper left hand corner of the
net for his 8th tally of the season.

San Jose found themselves on the
penalty kill late in the period, but they almost turned the tables on Vancouver
when Chris Tierney intercepted a puck and skated up ice on a breakaway chance.
Alex Edler was forced to hook the Sharks forward to setup a penalty shot for
San Jose. Tierney looked lost on the one-on-one chance against Miller, trying
to deek left, only to flub the chance and keep the game tied at 1-1.

The Sharks found their legs in the 2nd period and took
it to the Canucks. Rookie Mrcus Sorensen scored his 1st career NHL goal 9:28
into the period. Sorensen gathered a Tomas Hertl pass on the left side by
collecting it with his skate, before whipping a shot that deflected off a skate
and past Miller.

Logan Couture made it a 3-1 game 4 minutes later,
after Patrick Marleau fought off three defenders to feed his linemate in the
high slot. Marleau stripped Brendan Gaunce of the puck, before making a pass
between the centerman's skates. Couture received Marleau's pass then turned to
his left and ripped a shot that zipped over Miller's left shoulder.

San Jose out-shot Vancouver 13-5 in the 3rd period, but Miller played his best
period, blocking several decent chances.

Game Notes:

*
Newly acquired forward Jannick Hansen was a no-show as he tries to sort out
visa issues. Ironic, given that his former team made it to San Jose with no
problem.

* Joe Thornton sits at 999 assists, although his teammates
tried to feed him the puck on a pair of empty net chances late in the game.

* The Sharks participated in the "Hockey for Everyone" campaign, which
promotes diversity and inclusion in the game. Players had rainbow taped sticks
in warms ups which will be auctioned off for charity.

* David Schlemko
was injured in the 3rd period and missed most of the period after sustaining
what's believed to be a lower body injury.

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